33617 Single-ventricle repair Medicare reimbursement rates in Alabama

This code describes open surgical reconstruction for congenital heart disease in which the heart has a single functional ventricle, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A congenital cardiac surgeon performs the repair using cardiopulmonary bypass; the service may include creation of a shunt. A Norwood-type operation is a characteristic example when the documented procedure matches this code. These operations are performed in a hospital operating room, commonly as part of staged treatment for complex congenital heart disease.

Select the code from the operative report’s description of the single-ventricle repair, use of bypass, and any shunt creation; the shunt is within the code’s scope. This major surgery has a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple-procedure reduction. Modifier 50 is not appropriate. Assistant-at-surgery payment may be available; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team-surgery payment is not permitted.